The changing consumer behavior during COVID-19 has accelerated the growth of “E-Commerce” globally, including in Thailand, creating opportunities amidst the crisis that every business must seize.

            Data from Priceza shows that in 2020, the Thai e-commerce market grew by 81%, valued at 294 billion baht, exceeding the original forecast of 220 billion baht. This reflects that online shopping is the answer for consumers in the new lifestyle era and will be a lifeline for businesses, including SMEs, during such a crisis.

            Currently, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Thai economy, accounting for over 30-40% of GDP. Recently, SMEs have faced significant impacts from lockdown measures and travel restrictions, leading most people to stay at home and reduce spending.

            Undoubtedly, “E-Commerce” will be a crucial factor for SMEs to adapt their sales channels to online platforms, aligning with social changes. Entering the e-commerce market in Thailand offers various approaches, and having a website serves as an online storefront that helps businesses maintain relationships with existing customers even amidst a crisis, while also ensuring budget efficiency and scalability according to the business's needs.

            Today, creating an online store is easier than it was 4-5 years ago, and there are e-commerce platform services that enable businesses to quickly adapt to the e-commerce market. Generally, the process of creating an online store consists of 8 steps:

1. Choose a website builder for e-commerce.

2. If you don’t have a website yet, the next step is to choose a domain name, which should be related to your business.

3. Select a theme or overall appearance for the website.

4. Create product pages, clearly categorized, with descriptions of the products, including professional product photography.

5. In addition to product pages, other important pages include the homepage, about us page, and contact page.

6. Set up payment options or the ordering process, including essential banking information for the platform to transfer funds.

7. Purchase an SSL certificate, which acts like an online ID card indicating that the website is secure from threats, ensuring maximum safety for customers' personal information.

8. Launch the e-commerce store. Once all steps are completed, you can present your store to the public and promote products to your target audience.

 

 

            “E-Commerce” is thus the best choice and lifeline right now for business operators who need to quickly secure a place in the open online market for businesses of all sizes. It not only helps businesses grow amidst the COVID-19 crisis and the ongoing economic downturn but also enhances competitive potential in the future, where the business world and technology world merge into one.